Jordan tours & travel

It was the cradle of civilisation, one time land of ancient empires, and battleground for Lawrence of Arabia –a land of great history and singular natural beauty.

Jordan was once part of the Fertile Crescent, the arcing region of the Middle East that birthed the world as we know it. Countless mighty kingdoms have risen and fallen here, and their glorious remains make Jordan a well of ancient history. There’s Petra, The Rose City, with its colossal facades carved into pink stone; and Jerash with its abounding roman pillars, amphitheatres and temples. Even Wadi Rum, the desert valley strewn with mystical rock formations, supports a people as old as the region itself.

What people say

The trip was amazing and diverse. We didn't have any issues, the people were friendly and welcoming and tourist police were everywhere.

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Local culture of Jordan

Local culture of Jordan

Jordan is a conservative Muslim society with the benefits of Western modernity. The streets of Amman are studded with mosques calling people in for daily prayers, but it’s also a city of skyscrapers, cafes and western food chains. In the Jordanian desert, the Bedouin minority still live a nomadic lifestyle herding camel and goat. It’s important to dress appropriately in Jordan to show respect for the culture. Women who cover their skin and hair will feel more comfortable and are more likely to be welcomed by the locals.

Geography & environment

Geography & environment

Jordan lies between the nations of Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Palestine. Most of Jordan’s land mass is covered by the Syrian Desert and the Arabian Desert, and it’s broken up with valleys, gorges and oases. The Jordan Rift valley roughly delineates Jordan’s west coast, and the valley consists of two major bodies of water: the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. There are a few scatterings of mountains surrounding the Dead Sea. The climate in Jordan is generally Mediterranean, becoming harsher as you head further inland.

Shopping guide to Jordan

Shopping guide to Jordan

Your Jordan tour will offer plenty of shopping opportunities. In Madaba, you’ll find traditional mosaic and ceramics, as well as decorative Arabian carpets and rugs. Exploring the souqs of Amman will turn up gold jewellery and souvenirs suchas figurines, painted eggs and sand-filled jars. The Bedouin people also produce handicraft in their own unique style, including marvellous silver jewellery and embroidered scarves.

Jordan festival calendar

Jordan festival calendar

Ramadan and Eid

It’s a time for fasting and worship. Most Jordanians observe their religious proscriptions even more seriously at this time of year. At the end of the fasting, the people celebrate and feast on special foods.

Jerash Festival of Culture of Arts

The ancient roman city of Jerash comes back to life in this special arts festival. There’s theatre, music, poetry and dance, all demonstrating the age-old traditions of Jordan culture.

Food & drink in Jordan

Food & drink in Jordan

Jordan holidays will provide ample opportunity to try the local cuisine. Meals in Jordan usually begin with meze, which is a shared platter of dips, bread and pickled vegetables. Move on to a main such as the national dish of mansaf, tender lamb soaked in fermented yoghurt and served on bread. There’s also Bamya, a flavoursome okra and tomato sauce dish, and freekeh, roasted green wheat with cinnamon and coriander. Close your meal the Jordinian way – with a shot of strong black coffee.

Further reading

Further reading

Live from Jordan: Letters home from my journey through the Middle East by Benjamin Orbach

Tipping is considered good manners in Jordan. Tips are expected for most services, however the amount varies and is up to your discretion. Most restaurants include a surcharge of 10% but it’s still a good idea to tip extra on top of this. Round up your fare when using taxis and tip your porters and guides at the end of the day.

Most toilets in Jordan are squat toilets but there are western style toilets a places like hotels, malls and nice restaurants. Soap and toilet paper aren’t always provided so you may like to carry some with you.

Some hotels and cafes may have filtered water which is safe to drink, but generally tap water is not safe in Jordan. For environmental reasons, avoid buying bottled water and bring a bottle or canteen with you. Ask your leader where you can access a filtered supply to refill, or carry your own purification tablets with you.